Join us on this exclusive private guided experience inside the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the most important and oldest churches in Rome and the only papal basilica to have preserved its original early Christian structure for over 1,600 years.
This comprehensive private tour includes exclusive access to the basilica, the rooftop terrace, and the museum areas, offering a unique opportunity to discover hidden spaces rarely open to the public.
Your journey begins inside the Basilica, where an expert guide will lead you through its most sacred and extraordinary places. Marvel at the stunning central nave, decorated with some of the oldest Christian mosaics in the world, dating back to the 5th century and depicting scenes from the Old Testament. Look up to admire the spectacular paneled ceiling, one of the basilica's most impressive artistic treasures.
Continue your visit to the Cappella Sistina of Santa Maria Maggiore (not to be confused with the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican) and the Cappella Paolina, which houses the venerated Salus Populi Romani, a Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary deeply revered by Romans and popes throughout the centuries. Beneath the high altar, inside the Confessio, you will discover a crystal reliquary that holds fragments believed to come from the Sacred Crib of Jesus. The tour also includes a visit to the tomb of Pope Francis and that of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, one of the greatest artists and architects of the Baroque period.
Next, enjoy exclusive access to the rooftop viewing terrace, where breathtaking views over the rooftops of Rome and historical landmarks await you.
The experience ends in the Museum Areas of the basilica. With your guide, explore the Loggia of Blessings and the Hall of the Popes and discover Bernini's Spiral Staircase, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. Visit the Liberian Museum, which houses precious treasures, sacred vestments, ancient relics, and priceless works of art that preserve the history of the basilica.
Before you leave, admire the magnificent 18th-century façade and the hidden 13th-century mosaics of the Loggia, which tell the story of the famous "Miracle of the Snow", when, according to tradition, the Virgin Mary indicated the site for the construction of the church by making it snow in August. You will also see the Holy Door, which is only opened during Jubilee Years as a symbol of mercy and renewal.
